West Marine Price Fixing

Chris wrote: I suspect that West Marine qualifies as the 1,000 lb. gorilla, so if their prices are way high, it reflects a desire to maximize the profit. My gripe has been that they tend to drive small chandleries out of business by offering a wide range of goods at attractive prices, then when all the competition is gone, the range of goods contracts and the prices rise. I intentionally seek out as much as I can from online sources like Defender and Hamilton Marine but it does require thinking ahead. Chris, Now that West Marine put BOAT US out of business and even blocked their opening a store in Marina del Rey, they've jacked up their prices way, way higher. Ironically, the only independent competition, "Ship's Store" used to be significantly higher priced than West Marine, but now, miracle of miracles, they're SIGNIFICANTLY LESS EXPENSIVE!!!! How is that possible? The only thing I can think is West Marine has gone way up on prices after driving others out of business. So that seems to confirm what you said. Other possibilities is that West marine was undercutting other chandleries to drive them out, and now pricing stuff the way the independent chandleries, who had low volume and high overhead, used to. Of course, with the way the economy is going, I'm guessing many West Marine branches will begin closing anyway. Their store in Marina del Rey is pretty empty all the time, and I wonder if they haven't closed the extra store they put in MDR just to drive Boat US out of town. There is one last, but growing, or formerly growing discounter left, that's "Boater's World" which is more fishing oriented, they do have a limited amount of sail hardware and stuff at lower prices than West. Gee, I remember when West Marine was this modest dingy looking store in Palo Alto, and yeah, the store is still there, off San Antonio Road. I used it to outfit my modified (by yee old model sailboat builder...me) homebuilt Catamarran for my expiditionary sail from China Basin, 'round Alameda Island to Quinn's Lighthouse, (and Alameda Islander girlfriends pad), and back to San Francisco, short tacking slowly under the draw bridge to Oakland International, where-in I probably caused some P.B. to miss his flight out of town (heard screech of burning rubber as he slammed on the brakes as the bridge went up), and back to quant historical S.F. (or it was so 'till a certain Senator quashed the height limits on buildings). [oops...politics] Jerry .

Wow!!!!! I see what you mean. I went to West Marines website and did a comparison and there was a huge difference in not only cost but variety. In Chicago its really only West Marine. There are smaller ones but often things have to be ordered. It's kind of like Home Depot you sometimes hate it but you need its convenience. --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Gerald Sobel <sobel_solar@...> wrote: > > Chris wrote: > > > > > > > I suspect that West Marine qualifies as the 1,000 lb. gorilla, so if > their prices are way high, it reflects a desire to maximize the > profit. My gripe has been that they tend to drive small chandleries > out of business by offering a wide range of goods at attractive prices, > then when all the competition is gone, the range of goods contracts and > the prices rise. I intentionally seek out as much as I can from online > sources like Defender and Hamilton Marine but it does require thinking > ahead. > > > > Chris, > Now that West Marine put BOAT US out of business and even blocked their opening a store in Marina del Rey, they've jacked up their prices way, way higher. Ironically, the only independent competition, "Ship's Store" used to be significantly higher priced than West Marine, but now, miracle of miracles, they're SIGNIFICANTLY LESS EXPENSIVE!!!! How is that possible? The only thing I can think is West Marine has gone way up on prices after driving others out of business. So that seems to confirm what you said. Other possibilities is that West marine was undercutting other chandleries to drive them out, and now pricing stuff the way the independent chandleries, who had low volume and high overhead, used to. Of course, with the way the economy is going, I'm guessing many West Marine branches will begin closing anyway. Their store in Marina del Rey is pretty empty all the time, and I wonder if they haven't closed the extra store they put in MDR just > to drive Boat US out of town. > > There is one last, but growing, or formerly growing discounter left, that's "Boater's World" which is more fishing oriented, they do have a limited amount of sail hardware and stuff at lower prices than West. > > Gee, I remember when West Marine was this modest dingy looking store in Palo Alto, and yeah, the store is still there, off San Antonio Road. I used it to outfit my modified (by yee old model sailboat builder...me) homebuilt Catamarran for my expiditionary sail from China Basin, 'round Alameda Island to Quinn's Lighthouse, (and Alameda Islander girlfriends pad), and back to San Francisco, short tacking slowly under the draw bridge to Oakland International, where-in I probably caused some P.B. to miss his flight out of town (heard screech of burning rubber as he slammed on the brakes as the bridge went up), and back to quant historical S.F. (or it was so 'till a certain Senator quashed the height limits on buildings). [oops...politics] > Jerry > > > . >

je… [at] sbcglobal.net wrote: > > > In Chicago its really only West Marine. There are smaller ones but > often things have to be ordered. It's kind of like Home Depot you > sometimes hate it but you need its convenience. > This is what makes me mad. When West opens a local store, they have all sorts of great stuff, including the products I use. Then when they've killed off the competition, the range of products gets cut way back. Things they used to carry, the things I decided to buy from them because it's convenient, suddenly are no longer available. "We don't carry that any more; we can order it for you but it won't be here until the truck arrives on ____ [fill in one day after you need the item]." This is highly INconvenient and annoying as all get-out. If I'm going to be inconvenienced by waiting for stuff to arrive, I might as well order it from one of their competitors and get at least as a good a price (often better) plus home delivery. I like the idea of keeping competitors alive. Chris Campbell > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >

Chris we used to have a Boat US and a West Marine. West took over the Boat US which was by far a better store. They had alot more useful items than West Wallet. I very seldom go there now I don't need water ski's when I go sailing. Dave --- On Fri, 3/6/09, Chris Campbell <cl… [at] charterinternet.com> wrote: From: Chris Campbell <cl… [at] charterinternet.com> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Re: West Marine Price Fixing To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, March 6, 2009, 11:04 AM jeffn67@sbcglobal. net wrote: In Chicago its really only West Marine. There are smaller ones but often things have to be ordered. It's kind of like Home Depot you sometimes hate it but you need its convenience. This is what makes me mad. When West opens a local store, they have all sorts of great stuff, including the products I use. Then when they've killed off the competition, the range of products gets cut way back. Things they used to carry, the things I decided to buy from them because it's convenient, suddenly are no longer available. "We don't carry that any more; we can order it for you but it won't be here until the truck arrives on ____ [fill in one day after you need the item]." This is highly INconvenient and annoying as all get-out. If I'm going to be inconvenienced by waiting for stuff to arrive, I might as well order it from one of their competitors and get at least as a good a price (often better) plus home delivery. I like the idea of keeping competitors alive. Chris Campbell

maybe the old stock was cheaper but now sold out and the new stock is more expensive. Reggie To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com From: je… [at] sbcglobal.net Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 16:32:02 +0000 Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: West Marine Price Fixing Wow!!!!! I see what you mean. I went to West Marines website and did a comparison and there was a huge difference in not only cost but variety. In Chicago its really only West Marine. There are smaller ones but often things have to be ordered. It's kind of like Home Depot you sometimes hate it but you need its convenience. --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Gerald Sobel <sobel_solar@...> wrote: > > Chris wrote: > > > > > > > I suspect that West Marine qualifies as the 1,000 lb. gorilla, so if > their prices are way high, it reflects a desire to maximize the > profit. My gripe has been that they tend to drive small chandleries > out of business by offering a wide range of goods at attractive prices, > then when all the competition is gone, the range of goods contracts and > the prices rise. I intentionally seek out as much as I can from online > sources like Defender and Hamilton Marine but it does require thinking > ahead. > > > > Chris, > Now that West Marine put BOAT US out of business and even blocked their opening a store in Marina del Rey, they've jacked up their prices way, way higher. Ironically, the only independent competition, "Ship's Store" used to be significantly higher priced than West Marine, but now, miracle of miracles, they're SIGNIFICANTLY LESS EXPENSIVE!!!! How is that possible? The only thing I can think is West Marine has gone way up on prices after driving others out of business. So that seems to confirm what you said. Other possibilities is that West marine was undercutting other chandleries to drive them out, and now pricing stuff the way the independent chandleries, who had low volume and high overhead, used to. Of course, with the way the economy is going, I'm guessing many West Marine branches will begin closing anyway. Their store in Marina del Rey is pretty empty all the time, and I wonder if they haven't closed the extra store they put in MDR just > to drive Boat US out of town. > > There is one last, but growing, or formerly growing discounter left, that's "Boater's World" which is more fishing oriented, they do have a limited amount of sail hardware and stuff at lower prices than West. > > Gee, I remember when West Marine was this modest dingy looking store in Palo Alto, and yeah, the store is still there, off San Antonio Road. I used it to outfit my modified (by yee old model sailboat builder...me) homebuilt Catamarran for my expiditionary sail from China Basin, 'round Alameda Island to Quinn's Lighthouse, (and Alameda Islander girlfriends pad), and back to San Francisco, short tacking slowly under the draw bridge to Oakland International, where-in I probably caused some P.B. to miss his flight out of town (heard screech of burning rubber as he slammed on the brakes as the bridge went up), and back to quant historical S.F. (or it was so 'till a certain Senator quashed the height limits on buildings). [oops...politics] > Jerry > > > . >

We must be super lucky here in the harbor of Los Angeles - the West here is well stocked and manned by really nice helpful people [the majority of the time, at least]. It could well be due to the presence of competition, but much of the competition is highly industrial and aimed at the fishing fleet or other non sailing commercial maritime types. Bur speaking of the whole walmartification of chandleries, I always make sure to shop the little guys first and buy from them if they have what I need - even if they only have one of what I need. The 1st West Marine I went to [marina del rey] was truly a travesty, though. I've gotten better, more knowledgeable service at the DMV! From: r good <my… [at] hotmail.com> To: ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, March 6, 2009 10:46:25 AM Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] Re: West Marine Price Fixing maybe the old stock was cheaper but now sold out and the new stock is more expensive. Reggie To: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou ps.com From: jeffn67@sbcglobal. net Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 16:32:02 +0000 Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: West Marine Price Fixing Wow!!!!! I see what you mean. I went to West Marines website and did a comparison and there was a huge difference in not only cost but variety. In Chicago its really only West Marine. There are smaller ones but often things have to be ordered. It's kind of like Home Depot you sometimes hate it but you need its convenience. --- In Cal_Boats@yahoogrou ps.com, Gerald Sobel <sobel_solar@ ...> wrote: > > Chris wrote: > > > > > > > I suspect that West Marine qualifies as the 1,000 lb. gorilla, so if > their prices are way high, it reflects a desire to maximize the > profit. My gripe has been that they tend to drive small chandleries > out of business by offering a wide range of goods at attractive prices, > then when all the competition is gone, the range of goods contracts and > the prices rise. I intentionally seek out as much as I can from online > sources like Defender and Hamilton Marine but it does require thinking > ahead. > > > > Chris, > Now that West Marine put BOAT US out of business and even blocked their opening a store in Marina del Rey, they've jacked up their prices way, way higher. Ironically, the only independent competition, "Ship's Store" used to be significantly higher priced than West Marine, but now, miracle of miracles, they're SIGNIFICANTLY LESS EXPENSIVE!!! ! How is that possible? The only thing I can think is West Marine has gone way up on prices after driving others out of business. So that seems to confirm what you said. Other possibilities is that West marine was undercutting other chandleries to drive them out, and now pricing stuff the way the independent chandleries, who had low volume and high overhead, used to. Of course, with the way the economy is going, I'm guessing many West Marine branches will begin closing anyway. Their store in Marina del Rey is pretty empty all the time, and I wonder if they haven't closed the extra store they put in MDR just > to drive Boat US out of town. > > There is one last, but growing, or formerly growing discounter left, that's "Boater's World" which is more fishing oriented, they do have a limited amount of sail hardware and stuff at lower prices than West. > > Gee, I remember when West Marine was this modest dingy looking store in Palo Alto, and yeah, the store is still there, off San Antonio Road. I used it to outfit my modified (by yee old model sailboat builder...me) homebuilt Catamarran for my expiditionary sail from China Basin, 'round Alameda Island to Quinn's Lighthouse, (and Alameda Islander girlfriends pad), and back to San Francisco, short tacking slowly under the draw bridge to Oakland International, where-in I probably caused some P.B. to miss his flight out of town (heard screech of burning rubber as he slammed on the brakes as the bridge went up), and back to quant historical S.F. (or it was so 'till a certain Senator quashed the height limits on buildings). [oops...politics] > Jerry > > > . >

--- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Chris Campbell <clcampbell@...> wrote: > > jeffn67@... wrote: > > > > > > In Chicago its really only West Marine. There are smaller ones but > > often things have to be ordered. It's kind of like Home Depot you > > sometimes hate it but you need its convenience. > > > > > > > > This is what makes me mad. When West opens a local store, they have all > sorts of great stuff, including the products I use. Then when they've > killed off the competition, the range of products gets cut way back. > Things they used to carry, the things I decided to buy from them because > it's convenient, suddenly are no longer available. "We don't carry that > any more; we can order it for you but it won't be here until the truck > arrives on ____ [fill in one day after you need the item]." This is > highly INconvenient and annoying as all get-out. > > If I'm going to be inconvenienced by waiting for stuff to arrive, I > might as well order it from one of their competitors and get at least as > a good a price (often better) plus home delivery. I like the idea of > keeping competitors alive. I mostly order from other sources and Use WM for impulse stuff and small things. Two good sources are" http://www.apsltd.com/home.asp and a Texas place called : http://mauriprosailing.com Other good ones are Bosun supplies for metal fasteners and deck hardware and Jamestown for boatbuilding stuff. Mike Kennedy Conquest Cal 40 # 96 > > Chris Campbell > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > >

--- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Lord Nougat <lord_nougat@...> wrote: > > We must be super lucky here in the harbor of Los Angeles - the West here is well stocked and manned by really nice helpful people [the majority of the time, at least]. It could well be due to the presence of competition, but much of the competition is highly industrial and aimed at the fishing fleet or other non sailing commercial maritime types. > Bur speaking of the whole walmartification of chandleries, I always make sure to shop the little guys first and buy from them if they have what I need - even if they only have one of what I need. > We used to have a little marine store on Pacific Avenue that had CNG cylinders and other stuff that was very convenient. They are now gone. Once I ran out of CNG at Catalina, I had gone over with an almost empty cylinder. I called them from Catalina and they sent a cylinder over on the schooner the next day. I went over in the dinghy and got it ad paid them when I got back. You won't see the service like that at WM. Mike Kennedy Conquest Cal 40 # 96

Well, I can say that the people working at the West Marine in Chicago are friendly and knowledgeable. They either work on, crew or own a boat themselves. I think this is mainly due to the store manager who is a avid sailor. He obviously takes the time to screen applicants and is more then happy to give advice and even redirect to other stores or sites if need be. --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "mtkennedy1" <mtkennedy1@...> wrote: > > --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Lord Nougat <lord_nougat@> wrote: > > > > We must be super lucky here in the harbor of Los Angeles - the West here is well stocked and manned by really nice helpful people [the majority of the time, at least]. It could well be due to the presence of competition, but much of the competition is highly industrial and aimed at the fishing fleet or other non sailing commercial maritime types. > > Bur speaking of the whole walmartification of chandleries, I always make sure to shop the little guys first and buy from them if they have what I need - even if they only have one of what I need. > > > > We used to have a little marine store on Pacific Avenue that had CNG cylinders and other stuff that was very convenient. They are now gone. Once I ran out of CNG at Catalina, I had gone over with an almost empty cylinder. I called them from Catalina and they sent a cylinder over on the schooner the next day. I went over in the dinghy and got it ad paid them when I got back. You won't see the service like that at WM. > > Mike Kennedy > Conquest Cal 40 # 96 >